Improved canal-boat propeller



UNITED STATES OVID PLUME, OF MILLPORT, NEW YORK.

IMPRovEDcANAL- BOAT PROPELLER.

To ally/hom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, OVID PLUMB,of Mill port, iu the county of Chemung and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propeller Canal-Boats; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification- Figure l' being a horizontal section of the bottom of my improved canal propeller in the plane indicated bythe line w a, Fig. 2, the boat being represented as bottom upward; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section of the same in the plane indicated by the line y y, Fig. l; Fig. 3, a transverse vertical section qhereof in the plane indicated by theline z a, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a fragment of the view represented in Fig. 1, but showing a modification of the waterways and the valves or gates for turning or deflect-ing the current of water.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention consists in an inclosed central longitudinal waterpassage extending the whole length of the boat, open at both ends,

over the middle of which is situated a paddlewheel, and having leading from said passage on either side longitudinally of the paddle- Wlieel the ends 0f a water way or ways; passing around laterally, and opening at the side of the wheelcase, so that the benefit of the centrifugal action of the water therein acted on by the wheel is obtained; and also in counection with the passage and the water way or ways of the use of adjusting gates or valves for deliecting the water from the said passage to the water-way on one side of the wheel,an'd allowing its discharge at the other side, so as to adapt the boat to be driven in either direction at pleasure, and with equal facility.

In the ordinary construction of most canalpropellers heretofore, the paddle-wheel or propeller has been placed in the rear of the boat, so that it could be driven onlyin one direction. Thus, in addition to the disadvantage of having to turn the boat around to go in the opposite direction, the paddlewheel is not adapted to equal action as the boat is loaded heavier or lighter. A paddle-wheel located in the center of the boat possesses many obvious advantages, and my improvements are intended to render such more effective in use and operation.

The boat A may be of ordinary shape and construction. In its bottom, extending the whole length, is made a central longitudinal main water-passage, B, ofsuitable size to adinit suicient water for the paddlewheel to act ou in propelling the vessel, and having both ends open, but its bottom closed by the bottom a of the boat, substantially as represented. Centrally, or nearly so,over this waterpassage is situated a vertical paddle-wheel, C, of ordinary construction and of suitable size for the purpose intended. It rests in a close circular case or chamber, D, of asize that will just allow the wheel to turn freely therein without extra space. Laterally on either or both sides ofthe wheel, and usually around its shaft,is made ahole or passage, b, through the sideE of the case, and this passage opens into a lateral water-way,'G, ofsuitable size parallel with the main Water-passage B and opening into it on opposite sides of the wheel longitudinally, as clearly represented at d el. The position of the waterway is indicated in Fig. 2 by dotted lines.

Against the openings d and d of the water way or ways leading from the main passage are situated vertical hinged valves or gates H and H', of a size and shape that cover the said openings and just till vertically the space of the passage B. These gates are conveniently turned ou theiraxesff by means of shafts I I extending upward to the deck of the boat. Thus arranged by turning either gate parallel with the main passage against the lateral opening of the water-way the water will be allowed a straight course through the said main passage B; but by turning it baek'so thatitsswiuging end rests against the opposite side of the main passage, the main passage will be closed and the current of water deflected or turned into the lateral water-way.

If a water-way is used on each side of the main passage, as represented in Fig. 4, two valves are used in place of one, shutting back, respectively, against the openings,asindicated by red lines, and their end s meeting -in the center for detlecting the water, as indicated by black lines. g

The operation is as follows: Suppose the gate H to be turned outward, so as to deect the current of water into the end d ofthe waterway, as indicated by the corresponding arrow in Figs. l and 2, and suppose the opposite gate H to be closed against its corresponding opening,thus leaving that portion of the main passage open communicating with the wheel. Then there will be no escape for the water in the water-way except through the opening b to theinterioroi'thewheel-caseD. Hereitisacted on by the paddle-wheel and carried quickly around in the chamber, as indicated by arrows therein, thus acquiring a strong centrifugal action; and, nally, when reaching the trough in the bottom, it escapes at a tangent rearwardly and reacts on the outside water, thus giving motion to the boat. The impetus and force of the water are largely increased by its centrifugal action in the chamber D, and in this respect the arrangement is a very superior one. In addition to this the main water-passage, being entirely inclosed except at its ends, allows no downward escape of the water, its only passage beingbackward, thus retaining the full force of the centrifugal action, and also dischargingin such a manner as not to cause swells on the banks of the canal. The paddle-wheel, by being located in the center of the boat, is the least affected by overloading, and, indeed, by my improved arrangement is not affected in any degree, for with the lightest load the boat rests sufciently deep in the water for the proper action of all the parts, and with the heaviest loads the main water-passage B and chamber D can only be lled, the only difference being in the pressure of the water. The machinery, by being situated in the middle of the boat, keeps it well balanced. The water on which the wheel acts, passing directly through from front to rear, instead of being forced around at the sides of the boat, tends to removea portion of the resistance in front and to apply force in the rear most eftectually. v

Vhen the boat is to run in the oppositedirection, all that is necessary to do is to reverse the position ofthe gates or valves, as indicated by red lines in Figs. l and 2, and turn the paddle-wheel in the opposite direction. Thus the boat is adapted to run in either direction equally well by merely shifting the position of the gates, saving the trouble and time of turning it around.

By a simple connection of the shafts I I of the gates in any convenient manner the gates or valves may be made to operate automatically-that is, so that one will be opened when the other is closed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The side water way or ways G, connecting with the main inclosed passage B on either side longitudinally of the paddlewheel, and opening into the wheelchamber D by the passage b in such a manner that the water admitted therein is carried around by the paddle-wheel, thus producing a centrifugal action and escaping at the rear, the whole arranged anda operating substantially as herein described.

2. Covering the openings of the water way or ways G leading from the main water-passage by the hinged adjusting valves or gates H H', so that the water may be deliccted in at either end of said wayA or ways and discharged into the chamber D, and thence out through the opposite end of the main passage to adapt the boat to running ip either direction, combined and operating substantially as herein set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OVID PLUME.

Witnesses:

J oHN L. REQUA, B. F. OsGooD. 

